Starcrossed (37 page)

Sean went to get us more tea while I started spreading jam on a scone, straining my ears for all I was worth. My hearing was so much better since Rigel’s return, I discovered I could even hear the voice on the other end fairly well.

“—need more time to isolate the exact sequence for the Stuart boy, but the serum for the Sovereign is almost ready to test.” It sounded like Healer Fiona’s voice.
 

Allister shot a quick glance my way, which I pretended not to notice, carefully wiping my knife on the edge of my plate.
 

“That’s the important one,” he said quietly. “Let’s move forward with that.”

“But . . . the boy? We promised Ariel—”

“It can’t be helped,” Allister snapped, then lowered his voice again. “Keep working on it, of course, but time is of the essence. We need to move ahead with what we have. How do we proceed?”
 

I heard a sigh from Fiona, like she wasn’t happy with that decision—and no wonder. How could they even
consider
testing their so-called cure until they had one for Rigel, too?

After a pause, Fiona answered. “Have both children there Saturday. There’s a slight chance the same serum will work for him as well. Once it’s administered, we’ll separate them for a week or two. If the Sovereign suffers no ill effects—”

“We’ll be able to move ahead immediately instead of waiting. Excellent. Please extend my thanks to your team.” Allister clicked off and came back into the living room with a completely phony smile. “You’ll be pleased to hear, Princess, that there’s to be a, ah, reception in your honor here on Saturday. As it’s to be a happy occasion, your . . . friend, Rigel Stuart, is invited to attend as well.”

The O’Garas all looked at him with varying degrees of surprise and barely-concealed skepticism. I tried to hide mine better.
 

“This is rather sudden, isn’t it, Allister?” Mrs. O’Gara asked. Her “lie-detector” had to be buzzing like crazy, but she kept her tone mildly curious.

Allister nodded, his eyes darting to me, then back to her. “Yes, well, the Council feels it’s long overdue.” With sudden inspiration, he added, “Nara did especially request your lemon poundcake, if you’d be willing to make it.”

Though Mrs. O
had
to know he was just making crap up, she nodded, looking convincingly pleased by the compliment. She was way better at this than her brother, making me wonder what position Allister had held in the Nuathan legislature. Because he had to be one of the worst politicians ever—maybe a casualty of that Royal inbreeding Shim worried about.

“How nice of her!” Mrs. O’Gara said, not letting on by even a flicker that this was all fake. “Of course I’ll make it. What time Saturday?”

Again Allister was clearly caught off-guard, but he covered a little quicker this time. “I said I would check the Princess’s schedule and get back to them. Princess?”
 

I tried to smile as convincingly as Mrs. O’Gara had done. “I have taekwondo at noon, if my aunt lets me go, then I’ll have to shower, but I can be here by two o’clock. Gee, does this mean they’re finally seeing things my way? About Rigel, I mean?” I infused as much hopeful excitement into my voice as I could.

“Perhaps so,” he equivocated—badly. “In any event, I’m sure they’ll be willing to listen to anything you have to say.”

“That’s great!” I grinned around at all of them, my mind working furiously. Glancing at the clock on the mantel, I blinked in obvious surprise. “Gee, look how late it is! I’d better get home. Thanks for the tea and scones, Mrs. O’Gara.”

“You’re welcome, dear.” I watched her face, but she was still focusing on Allister, not me. “We’ll see you Saturday, if not before.”

“I can’t wait!” I enthused.
 

She really did look at me then, with that same probing look I’d seen her use on Molly, then relaxed as she divined that I was being totally honest.
 

Because I really
couldn’t
wait until Saturday. By two o’clock, I fully expected to well away from Jewel, along with Rigel.

Permanently.

ealu
(AY-loo):
break free; escape; elope

Tomorrow night
, I insisted to Rigel the next day. We were supposed to be taking a pop quiz in Geometry, but I was filling in random answers so we could continue the conversation we’d barely had time to start before class.
 

We’re not ready,
he thought back, pretending to focus on his on quiz sheet.
The plan isn’t ready.

I shot him a quick glare, then looked back at my paper.
I don’t care how many holes the plan has, we can’t wait any longer! They plan to test their stupid antidote on Saturday, then separate us completely—take you out of school, probably out of Jewel. Even if it only works on me, I don’t think they’ll let you come back. Ever!

I’d thought telling him they didn’t even
have
an antidote for him yet would be enough to convince him, but he still seemed more worried about messing up my nebulous “future” than his own health or even his life.
 

To my relief, Rigel finally gave a tiny nod.
You’re right. I don’t see any alternative to running now
.
 

We spent the rest of that class and all of English and Science trying to solidify our escape plan, but it wasn’t easy. For one thing, it kept getting more complicated, and for another, there were a lot of interruptions. I hoped eventually this kind of telepathy would become effortless but now, though single words were easy, it still required a
lot
of concentration to send and receive whole sentences.

At lunch, we headed straight to “our” corner of the cafeteria to work out the final details aloud, even though my aunt had pointedly reminded me I was still grounded as I was leaving for school that morning. Her rules and threatened punishments hardly mattered, if we were leaving Jewel forever the next day.

“So Allister lied right to your face?” Rigel whispered as we sat down.

“That surprises you? I don’t know why. He’s never cared the least bit about us—or even about me as a person. Just about politics and his precious position. For a race that’s not supposed to be power-hungry, he sure seems to be. He even expects me to appoint him Regent as soon as Faxon’s out.”

“No, I guess I’m not surprised. It’s just hard to believe any of this is true. So, will you appoint him Regent?” he teased, clearly trying to lighten my mood.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I won’t be appointing anybody Regent, since I won’t be around to play Sovereign for them. So. Back to the plan?”

To my relief, I felt his mood shift from worry to determination as everything sank in. “You’re right,” he said. “Let’s plug up some more holes.”
 

Unfortunately, just then a couple of football players plunked themselves down at our table, and then others drifted over, too, including Bri, Deb and Molly. Only Sean stayed away, sitting with some of the basketball team.
 

That forced us to wait till History, when we could at least go back to silent planning without acting noticeably odd. Still, I was confident we had everything major covered now. This
was
going to work. It had to!

My heart was starting to pound as I put the last dish in the drainer Friday night. Everything had gone according to plan so far, but the hardest part was still ahead.

“Okay, I’m done,” I announced to my aunt and uncle, who were watching TV in the living room. “I’d better head over to the O’Garas’—they’ll want to leave soon.”

I ran up to my room and grabbed my old backpack, still packed from before, but with a few last-minute additions, then headed back downstairs. “See you guys tomorrow morning,” I called out as I opened the front door.

“Be a good guest,” Aunt Theresa cautioned me. “Offer to wash your sheets in the morning.”

“I will.” I left before she could notice how nervous I was.

It had been a gamble asking my aunt if I could go to Sean’s game tonight, then spend the night with Molly afterward, but I’d focused all the persuasion I could onto her. To my amazement and huge relief, she’d agreed almost eagerly.
 

She did say something about calling Mrs. O to confirm, but when I told her she and Molly were out shopping but would meet me at their house in time to leave for the game, she accepted it without question, surprising me again. I could definitely get used to this new ability. Except I wouldn’t be around to use it on her again.

I forced myself to a normal—okay, slightly quick—walking pace until I was out of sight of the front windows, then ducked across the street and jogged between two houses to make my way to Diamond. I absolutely didn’t want the O’Garas seeing me when they left for the game, which would be any minute now. I’d told Molly my aunt made me choose between the game tonight and the “reception” at their house tomorrow, so I’d elected to stay home.

Keeping an eye out for anyone who might notice me and remember later, after I was reported missing, I skirted the garbage cans behind the Thurmonds’ house and slipped through the gap in the fence into the service alley behind Dream Cream.
 

Rigel was already there with his own backpack. “Everything go okay?” he asked after a quick hug and kiss.

“Way easier than I expected,” I admitted, clinging to his hand to absorb strength and confidence, which I was going to need tonight. “I didn’t even have to go to Plan B.” Which was to pretend to have a relapse from last week, go to bed early, then sneak out my window—which wouldn’t have given us nearly as big a head start.

“Great! My folks think I’m at the game, too, with the football team, then going to a party after. Told my dad Matt Mullins would give me a ride home.”

“So your dad dropped you in town?”
 

He nodded. “Some of the guys were meeting here at Dream Cream before the game and I joined them for the last few minutes. Pulled a switch as they were leaving, so Matt thinks Jeff is giving me a ride to the game and Jeff thinks I’m with Matt. They’ll notice I’m not there, but I don’t think they’ll do anything about it.”

“So that gives me until morning and you until what? Midnight? When are you supposed to be home?”
 

“Midnight, but I think I can push it till tomorrow, too. My parents were so relieved I want to socialize with the team again, they’re going easy on me. They know I’ve been upset about all this. They are, too, you know.”

I tightened my clasp on his hand and he returned it. “I know. But they can’t—or won’t—
do
anything about it. Which leaves it up to us.”

“Yeah.” For a second I got that worried, conflicted feeling from him again. “So, what’s the least visible way to the car lot?”

Before answering, I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him again, hard. “For luck,” I said in answer to his surprised—but pleased—response.

“Yeah, we’re going to need it. For luck.” He kissed me back, a real kiss that made me tingle all the way to my toes.

When he finally released me, he grinned at my undoubtedly dazed expression. That was some kiss! “Okay,” I said breathlessly. “Car lot.”
 

I led the way behind the businesses along Diamond, ducking when the back door of the Lighthouse Cafe opened and someone came out to empty the trash. They didn’t see us.
 

Past the business district, the alleyway ran out and we had to use the street. It had been full dark for over an hour by now and it was also freezing, so nobody else was out walking. I hoped the predicted overnight snow showers would hold off, since that was the last thing we needed.
 

We didn’t see anyone as we zigged up Emerald and then down Sapphire, heading toward the outskirts of downtown. A few cars passed, but we stayed far enough from the shoulder that the headlights didn’t hit us. It took about forty minutes on foot, but we finally reached the closed car lot where Uncle Louie worked.
 

“You’re sure they don’t have a watchman, or dogs or anything?” Rigel whispered, the first words either of us had spoken aloud since we started walking, though we’d been sending loving—and calming—thoughts to each other.

I shook my head. “A couple of security cameras, but I know where they are. Come on.”
 

The plan was to “borrow” a car from the lot—I knew the access code to the building, and where they kept all the car keys—and drive west. Or Rigel would. He’d taken some Driver’s Ed and at least had his learner’s permit. Of course, if we got stopped, we were toast.

We won’t get stopped
, Rigel thought to me, projecting more confidence than I felt at the moment.

“How do you do that?” I whispered. “I never hear your thoughts unless you’re sending them to me, but you snag mine right out of my head!”

He shrugged, grinning a little. “Maybe I pay closer attention.”

I hmphed—an unwelcome reminder of Aunt Theresa, who I’d probably never see again—then led him along the edge of the lot, where we weren’t within range of the security camera out front. Once we passed the corner of the building, I angled back in, close along that side, and around to the back door. The back camera was focused on the cars, not the door, so if we stayed close to the building, we should be okay.

I listened carefully, in case anyone was working late in the service department, but everything was quiet. Nobody wanted to hang around on a Friday night. Satisfied, I punched in the easy four-digit code to unlock the back door. I was glad they’d installed this keypad a few years back. It meant Uncle Louie couldn’t possibly be linked to what we were about to do. The last thing I wanted was for him to lose his job.

Everything was dark and quiet inside the dealership but I didn’t dare risk attention by turning on any lights. I moved by memory and feel to the small office where the security equipment was, along with all the keys to the cars on the lot. First task was to turn off the recorder for the cameras.

“Just unplug it,” Rigel suggested.